AIDS in Africa Though AIDS in Africa is a huge problem, it doesn't come as too much of a surprise to most people, because of the way AIDS and Africa have grown to be so interconnected. When the word AIDS or HIV pops up in a conversation, it is unfortunate that Africa generally comes to mind. And it's no wonder, what with the HIV virus having originated in Africa. The SIV virus that first affected chimps but then evolved into HIV was a virus that infected the chimpanzee population in Africa.(see the History of HIV AIDS page for more information) However, a common misjudgement is that people believe there are so many illnesses in Africa because of the poverty and the dirty nature of the land. However this is a RIDICULOUS notion and is simply NOT TRUE!!!Yes, it is true that many of the world’s sicknesses and disease are seen in Africa, and even more, such as HIV, are caused there. But the theory behind this is known as the ‘Out of Africa’ theory, which states that the basis of all life is created in Africa. The diversity in Africa, contrary to the knowledge of many around the world, is even greater than the Amazon Rainforest, though not by much. This is because when the continents of the world formed one single land mass known as Pangea, Africa and South America were very close to each other. It is said that the first prokaryotic cell came to be in the land now known as Africa. Because of this, the evolution and mutations of organisms are much greater in Africa, and more strains of different viruses and illnesses are found there. Thus, it has nothing to do with the common misconceptions of the "dirty land," or "poverty-stricken nation", but rather, true scientific fact! To learn more about The Out of Africa Theory, click the link below: Out of Africa Theory
THE FACTS Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region in the world. Roughly 22.5 million people living in the region have HIV. The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is devestating the growth of many communities, thus counteracting decades of development progress.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces a three major challenge, when concerning HIV and AIDS:
Providing health care, antiretroviral treatment, and support to a growing population of people with HIV-related illnesses.
Reducing the annual increase in new HIV infections by enabling individuals to protect themselves and others.
Coping with the impact of millions of AIDS deathson orphans and other survivors, communities, and national development.
Luckily, there are many people trying to help, especially when it comes to HIV in Africa. For more on this, see the 'Helping the Cause' page, or check out the Stephen Lewis Foundation website below, a Canadian foundation aimed at reducing AIDS and HIV in Africa The Stephen Lewis Foundation
Mother to Child Transmission of HIV
In 2009, around 300,000 children in sub-saharan Africa became infected with HIV. This is a major problem because the number of people in Africa with AIDS keeps increasing due to the number of kids being born with AIDS. These kids, infected during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, cannot even choose to take preventative measures; from the moment they are born, their lives are on a countdown due to AIDS. Without intervention or drugs to stop this occurrence, there is a 20-45% chance that and HIV-positive mother will pass the disease to her new born child. In many developed countries, there have been steps taken to reduce the rate of mother to child transmission, but in developing nations such as those in sub-saharan Africa, the lack of drugs, services and information, means that mother to child transmission of AIDS will continue to be a problem.
Helping the cause with...Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) ARVs greatly slows down the progression of HIV to AIDS and allows people living with HIV to live a relatively normal life. ARVs have been available in the developed countries since 1996, but in Africa, less than 4 out of ten people in need of these drugs receive it. The distribution of these drugs require money, time, and many healthcare workers. Developing countries don't have the time or the money for the drugs leading to many people left untreated. However, these statistics are steadily improving; the number of people receiving Antiretroviral drugs doubled in 2005 alone, and in 2009, nearly 4 million Africans were receiving treatment. To learn a little bit more about antiretroviral drugs and statistics associated with them, take a look at the following PDF Drugs to Help AIDS
Statistics: Some areas in Africa do not have such high rates of AIDS in the population... others are not as fortunate. Although percentages that are extremely low, like 1 or 3 percent, may not seem like a problem, the magnitude of the African population means that millions are still affected...
Prevalence in Somalia and Senegal is under 1%
Prevalence in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe is around 10-15%
South Africa is affected the most by AIDS with rates reaching 17.8%
Three south african countries have rates exceeding 20%
Botswana-24.8%
Lesotho-23.6%
Swaziland-25.9%
West Africa is less affected by AIDS than any other part of Africa with rates ranging from 3-5%.
Prevalence in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania exceeds 5%
As can be expected, AIDS seriously affects the people who are infected... but also sectors of the economy... Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy in sub-saharan Africa has now decreased to 52; lower than it was in the 1970s. Households: AIDS greatly affects households because families are left to fend for themselves when their primary income earners die. Healthcare: AIDS is putting a heavy strain on the health sector and health care workers, due to the greater number of hours needed for care to AIDS patients. Schools: Schools are greatly affected by AIDS, which is a major concern because schools can help educate children on the prevention of AIDS spreading. Economic growth and Development: The AIDS epidemic has greatly affected Africa's economic development, in turn affecting their ability to cope with the epidemic.
Though AIDS in Africa is a huge problem, it doesn't come as too much of a surprise to most people, because of the way AIDS and Africa have grown to be so interconnected. When the word AIDS or HIV pops up in a conversation, it is unfortunate that Africa generally comes to mind. And it's no wonder, what with the HIV virus having originated in Africa. The SIV virus that first affected chimps but then evolved into HIV was a virus that infected the chimpanzee population in Africa.(see the History of HIV AIDS page for more information) However, a common misjudgement is that people believe there are so many illnesses in Africa because of the poverty and the dirty nature of the land. However this is a RIDICULOUS notion and is simply NOT TRUE!!! Yes, it is true that many of the world’s sicknesses and disease are seen in Africa, and even more, such as HIV, are caused there. But the theory behind this is known as the ‘Out of Africa’ theory, which states that the basis of all life is created in Africa. The diversity in Africa, contrary to the knowledge of many around the world, is even greater than the Amazon Rainforest, though not by much. This is because when the continents of the world formed one single land mass known as Pangea, Africa and South America were very close to each other. It is said that the first prokaryotic cell came to be in the land now known as Africa. Because of this, the evolution and mutations of organisms are much greater in Africa, and more strains of different viruses and illnesses are found there. Thus, it has nothing to do with the common misconceptions of the "dirty land," or "poverty-stricken nation", but rather, true scientific fact!
To learn more about The Out of Africa Theory, click the link below:
Out of Africa Theory
THE FACTS
Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region in the world. Roughly 22.5 million people living in the region have HIV. The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is devestating the growth of many communities, thus counteracting decades of development progress.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces a three major challenge, when concerning HIV and AIDS:
- Providing health care, antiretroviral treatment, and support to a growing population of people with HIV-related illnesses.
- Reducing the annual increase in new HIV infections by enabling individuals to protect themselves and others.
- Coping with the impact of millions of AIDS deathson orphans and other survivors, communities, and national development.
Luckily, there are many people trying to help, especially when it comes to HIV in Africa. For more on this, see the 'Helping the Cause' page, or check out the Stephen Lewis Foundation website below, a Canadian foundation aimed at reducing AIDS and HIV in AfricaThe Stephen Lewis Foundation
Mother to Child Transmission of HIV
In 2009, around 300,000 children in sub-saharan Africa became infected with HIV. This is a major problem because the number of people in Africa with AIDS keeps increasing due to the number of kids being born with AIDS. These kids, infected during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, cannot even choose to take preventative measures; from the moment they are born, their lives are on a countdown due to AIDS. Without intervention or drugs to stop this occurrence, there is a 20-45% chance that and HIV-positive mother will pass the disease to her new born child. In many developed countries, there have been steps taken to reduce the rate of mother to child transmission, but in developing nations such as those in sub-saharan Africa, the lack of drugs, services and information, means that mother to child transmission of AIDS will continue to be a problem.
Helping the cause with...Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs)
ARVs greatly slows down the progression of HIV to AIDS and allows people living with HIV to live a relatively normal life. ARVs have been available in the developed countries since 1996, but in Africa, less than 4 out of ten people in need of these drugs receive it. The distribution of these drugs require money, time, and many healthcare workers. Developing countries don't have the time or the money for the drugs leading to many people left untreated. However, these statistics are steadily improving; the number of people receiving Antiretroviral drugs doubled in 2005 alone, and in 2009, nearly 4 million Africans were receiving treatment.
To learn a little bit more about antiretroviral drugs and statistics associated with them, take a look at the following PDF
Drugs to Help AIDS
Statistics:
Some areas in Africa do not have such high rates of AIDS in the population... others are not as fortunate. Although percentages that are extremely low, like 1 or 3 percent, may not seem like a problem, the magnitude of the African population means that millions are still affected...
As can be expected, AIDS seriously affects the people who are infected... but also sectors of the economy...
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy in sub-saharan Africa has now decreased to 52; lower than it was in the 1970s.
Households: AIDS greatly affects households because families are left to fend for themselves when their primary income earners die.
Healthcare: AIDS is putting a heavy strain on the health sector and health care workers, due to the greater number of hours needed for care to AIDS patients.
Schools: Schools are greatly affected by AIDS, which is a major concern because schools can help educate children on the prevention of AIDS spreading.
Economic growth and Development: The AIDS epidemic has greatly affected Africa's economic development, in turn affecting their ability to cope with the epidemic.